MSU Takes Advantage of ENMU Mistakes for 28-14 LSC South Victory

PORTALES, NM – Midwestern State University scored 17 points off two Eastern New Mexico University turnovers and a blocked punt, as the Indians defeated the Greyhounds, 28-14, at ENMU’s Homecoming game, Oct. 18 at Greyhound Stadium. With the win, MSU improved to 5-3 overall and 2-1 in the LSC South. Eastern dropped to 5-2 on the season, 1-2 in the LSC South.

The first 10 points of the game were scored by Midwestern following ENMU turnovers. MSU also scored one play after a blocked punt in the third quarter.

On Eastern’s second possession of the game, quarterback Heath Ridenour (Sr., Lovington, NM/Lovington HS) fumbled and Elton Pope recovered for MSU at the Indians’ 40-yard line. Eleven plays later, Jerry Holstrom kicked a 23-yard field goal for a 3-0 MSU lead.

Ridenour made a bad pitch on the first play from scrimmage after the kickoff. Running back Dwayne Davis (RS Fr., Lubbock, TX/Monterey HS) mishandled the ball while trying to pick it up. Larry Wright recovered the ball for the Indians and returned it 10 yards for a touchdown. Holstrom kicked the extra point.

Holstrom added another field goal, this time from 39 yards, to give Midwestern State a 13-0 lead with 13:51 left in the first half. ENMU answered quickly, moving 72 yards on 4 plays to cut the deficit to 13-7.

Ridenour hit wide receiver Derrick Hunter (Fr., Lubbock, TX/Monterey HS) with a 22-yard pass on the first play of the drive. The Greyhounds lost two yards over the next three plays, and faced 3rd-and-12 at the ENMU 48-yard line. On third down, Ridenour threw long to Hunter, who scored on a 52-yard pass. Joe Barnes (Fr., PK, Andrews, TX/Andrews HS) kicked the PAT. The drive was Eastern’s first with the wind at its back.

Later in the second quarter, the Hounds had Midwestern pinned at its own 7-yard line after a 27-yard punt. ENMU was penalized 5 yards for an offside violation. On second down, MSU quarterback Phillip Boggs completed a short pass to Andre Kelsick, who fumbled at the 17-yard line. Antonio Wiley (So., CB, Dallas, TX/Samuell HS) recovered the ball for ENMU.

The Hounds earned a first down on two plays, as Ridenour carried for six yards and Randy Montoya (Sr., FB, Roswell, NM/Goddard HS) rushed up the middle for five yards. Ridenour carried the ball again on the next play and scored on a 5-yard run. Barnes kicked the extra point to give Eastern a 14-13 lead.

ENMU had a chance to increase its lead late in the half, after Jeff Howard (So., LB, Portales, NM/Portales HS) intercepted a pass, giving the Greyhounds possession at the ENMU 47 with 2:14 left in the second quarter. Eastern overcame a holding penalty when Ridenour connected with Hunter for an 18-yard gain to the MSU 32 on 3rd-and-7 at the midfield stripe. Ridenour hit Hunter again for 12 yards, but the drive stalled and Barnes missed a 43-yard field goal.

On Midwestern’s first possession of the second half, Toby Zachary boomed a 52-yard punt that MSU downed at the ENMU 1-yard line. The Greyhounds earned a first down when Davis used second effort to gain 13 yards on 3rd-and-4. Eastern was forced to punt after three more downs, but the kick by Daniel Fetterman (Fr., P, Amarillo, TX/Caprock HS) was blocked by Jerome Jefferson. Robert Walker fell on the ball at the ENMU 1-yard line.
Tailback Jerrold Fuqua scored up the middle on the next play, as the Indians regained the lead. Holstrom’s extra point kick gave MSU a 20-14 advantage.

Eastern advanced to the Midwestern State 39-yard line before Fetterman punted to the MSU 12. The Indians then drove 88 yards on 16 plays, ultimately scoring on a 1-yard run by Boggs on 3rd-and-goal. Midwestern converted third downs five times during the drive, including a 27-yard pass from Boggs to Russell Bannister on a play that started at the MSU 18.

After Boggs scored, the Indians went for two points. Boggs also scored the conversion on a quarterback keeper.

The MSU drive lasted 6:52 and drained the clock from the 7:35 mark in the third quarter until just 43 seconds remained in the period. ENMU ran just two more plays before the game moved into the final quarter.

ENMU reached the Midwestern 47-yard line on the continuation of its third-quarter drive, then advance to the 43 on the Hounds’ next possession. Eastern was forced to punt both times. In between, MSU ran 7:26 off the clock on a 9-play, 29-yard possession.

The Indians finished the game with 278 total yards on 75 offensive plays. Boggs completed 10 of 19 passes for 103 yards and ran 18 times for 57 yards. Fuqua was MSU’s top rusher, with 23 carries for 77 yards. The Indians achieved 175 rushing yards overall on 56 carries. Kelsick led the MSU receivers with six catches for 47 yards.

Eastern gained 247 total yards. Ridenour was 7 of 16 passing for 125 yards, while Hunter caught 4 passes for 104 yards. Taryll Boxton (Sr., RB, Albuquerque, NM/Del Norte HS) led the Greyhounds’ on the ground, earning 49 yards on eight carries. Sukora Cooper (So., FB, Dallas, TX/Samuell HS) was the next leading rusher, with 21 yards on four carries. Steven Hinson (So., QB, Olney, TX/Olney HS) returned five kickoffs for a total of 126 yards (25.2 avg.).

Defensively, the Greyhounds were led by free safety Ty Touchstone (So., Lubbock, TX/Monterey HS), who recorded 17 total tackles. Adrian Quigley (So., SS, Lubbock, TX/Monterey HS) added 12 tackles, all unassisted. Quigley had two tackles for losses, including one sack.

Midwestern’s top tackler was Shanga Evans. He provided the Indians with 10 total tackles on six solo stops and four assists.

ENMU returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 26, when the Greyhounds take on Texas A&M-Commerce in an LSC South road game. Kickoff in Commerce, Texas, is set for 1 p.m. (MDT). Last year, the Hounds defeated TAMU-Commerce, 28-20, to knock the Lions out of the #24 ranking in the NCAA Division II Poll.